5 ms·

Let's be honest here. If you had as much money as Mcclure, would you waste as much time trying to please people by bending over backwards with perfect grammar,

by codexon 16y ago

Let's be honest here. If you had as much money as Mcclure, would you waste as much time trying to please people by bending over backwards with perfect grammar, lack of slang, and an apologetic tone? Everyone starts writing to please other people through resumes, cover letters, thank-you cards, and apologies. But once you have enough money like Mcclure, you can say "Fuck you" when you want to and not worry about losing your job. And that's exactly what he did.

lotusleaf1987 16y ago
Yes, I would. It doesn't take that much more effort. Your argument is that he's too busy for punctuation to be worth his time? What about people who are more wealthy than him who manage to do so? What would you think if Warren Buffett wrote like this? He's acting like the kids in junior high who thought they were being rebellious by shopping at Hot Topic and dressing punk. He's just replaced one style for another. He's not text messaging his rant, he published it online. If he's so rich and too busy, then pay an assistant to edit it. Everything you do is a representation of yourself.
- codexon 16y ago
  Maybe you would, that's why you're complaining about it. But my whole point is that there's more people like him that don't feel like writing perfectly. As you just admitted, it takes extra effort to write for your audience instead of writing for yourself. And why would he bother to hire an assistant to edit it? That also takes effort. Warren Buffet obviously has the choice to behave in the same manner. He also has the choice to be reckless like Larry Ellison and fly jet fighters, or be like the Koch brother's and spend millions on libertarian think-tanks to anger a large democratic populace. Or conversely, why does Buffet choose to anger countless libertarians by saying he and other billionaires should pay a higher tax rate than his secretary? If he was a truly wise businessman, he would refrain from political statements like that. My point is that wealth makes people more confident in revealing their idiosyncrasies. Whether or not you like their true personality is another story. Amusingly and relatedly I've lost over 20 karma points for telling what people don't want to hear even though I do not support Dave McClure's behavior.
  - ladon86 16y ago
    Because it's stupid. Just being rich doesn't make you immune to criticism. Sure, he can do what he likes, but other people are free to voice how dumb it is. I don't see what money has to do with it.
    - codexon 16y ago
      This is what I was responding to: I seriously don't understand how people were defending his writing style. I explained that his writing style is defensible because he doesn't care about the general audience. And if there were more people as rich as him, you'd see more people not bending over backwards with perfect grammar and an apologetic tone. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean he isn't justified in sounding off if it makes him feel better.
moxiemk1 16y ago
I guess it's because I'm the child of two English teachers, but writing in the style that McClure used takes effort for me. Writing in passable complete sentences is the norm.
- jimborey 16y ago
  For me, the worst part of his writing is his use of foul language. I do not want to have my mind littered with such filth. I have nearly two decades of business experience, and I have never come across anyone who comes remotely close to approximating the grossly unprofessional manner in which Dave communicates. How could professional colleagues and entrepreneurs put up with that? His style is a reflection of substance -- substance which is unprofessional, irresponsible, and uncivil. From the perspective of fellow investors, Dave's writing comes across as very sophomoric and utterly unprofessional. From the perspective of entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs merit more than any money, contacts, and accumulated wisdom that an investor can offer -- they also deserve a responsible and professional role model. Dave's writing is reflective of one whom I would hardly find to be a good role model. It is just simply improper and disrespectful of others for anyone to communicate in the manner that Dave has, and it is highly irresponsible for an adult to project himself or herself in such a manner especially when serving in an advisory or mentoring capacity. Thanks, Ron, for calling a spade a spade. I watched an interview with Ron about a year ago, and I found him to be very forthright, insightful, sincere, and professional - and clearly one who wants to try to help entrepreneurs out as much as he can. He seems to be a good role model for entrepreneurs. Thanks too to Mike Arrington for breaking the story and to Mike and his team for their follow up reports.
  - awakeasleep 16y ago
    It is just simply improper and disrespectful of others for anyone to communicate in the manner that Dave has I think that is the essence of his persona. The whole justification for it-- I'm smart and I have money so I don't have to show anyone respect. Deal with it or leave. It reminds me of my concept of ancient Rome for some reason. A place where power ruled, rather than the concept of egalitarianism.
CamperBob 16y ago
I don't know McClure or any of the other alleged colluding Lucifers, but I will say that, assuming McClure is a person of influence in the tech/dev community, I don't want him influencing others to write that way. Why? Simply because I don't want to read any further blog posts that are written that way. So it's more selfishness than self-righteousness that leads me to criticize his particular style.

by codexon 16y ago

lotusleaf1987 16y ago

Yes, I would. It doesn't take that much more effort. Your argument is that he's too busy for punctuation to be worth his time? What about people who are more wealthy than him who manage to do so? What would you think if Warren Buffett wrote like this? He's acting like the kids in junior high who thought they were being rebellious by shopping at Hot Topic and dressing punk. He's just replaced one style for another. He's not text messaging his rant, he published it online. If he's so rich and too busy, then pay an assistant to edit it. Everything you do is a representation of yourself.

codexon 16y ago
Maybe you would, that's why you're complaining about it. But my whole point is that there's more people like him that don't feel like writing perfectly. As you just admitted, it takes extra effort to write for your audience instead of writing for yourself. And why would he bother to hire an assistant to edit it? That also takes effort. Warren Buffet obviously has the choice to behave in the same manner. He also has the choice to be reckless like Larry Ellison and fly jet fighters, or be like the Koch brother's and spend millions on libertarian think-tanks to anger a large democratic populace. Or conversely, why does Buffet choose to anger countless libertarians by saying he and other billionaires should pay a higher tax rate than his secretary? If he was a truly wise businessman, he would refrain from political statements like that. My point is that wealth makes people more confident in revealing their idiosyncrasies. Whether or not you like their true personality is another story. Amusingly and relatedly I've lost over 20 karma points for telling what people don't want to hear even though I do not support Dave McClure's behavior.
- ladon86 16y ago
  Because it's stupid. Just being rich doesn't make you immune to criticism. Sure, he can do what he likes, but other people are free to voice how dumb it is. I don't see what money has to do with it.
  - codexon 16y ago
    This is what I was responding to: I seriously don't understand how people were defending his writing style. I explained that his writing style is defensible because he doesn't care about the general audience. And if there were more people as rich as him, you'd see more people not bending over backwards with perfect grammar and an apologetic tone. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean he isn't justified in sounding off if it makes him feel better.

moxiemk1 16y ago

I guess it's because I'm the child of two English teachers, but writing in the style that McClure used takes effort for me. Writing in passable complete sentences is the norm.

jimborey 16y ago
For me, the worst part of his writing is his use of foul language. I do not want to have my mind littered with such filth. I have nearly two decades of business experience, and I have never come across anyone who comes remotely close to approximating the grossly unprofessional manner in which Dave communicates. How could professional colleagues and entrepreneurs put up with that? His style is a reflection of substance -- substance which is unprofessional, irresponsible, and uncivil. From the perspective of fellow investors, Dave's writing comes across as very sophomoric and utterly unprofessional. From the perspective of entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs merit more than any money, contacts, and accumulated wisdom that an investor can offer -- they also deserve a responsible and professional role model. Dave's writing is reflective of one whom I would hardly find to be a good role model. It is just simply improper and disrespectful of others for anyone to communicate in the manner that Dave has, and it is highly irresponsible for an adult to project himself or herself in such a manner especially when serving in an advisory or mentoring capacity. Thanks, Ron, for calling a spade a spade. I watched an interview with Ron about a year ago, and I found him to be very forthright, insightful, sincere, and professional - and clearly one who wants to try to help entrepreneurs out as much as he can. He seems to be a good role model for entrepreneurs. Thanks too to Mike Arrington for breaking the story and to Mike and his team for their follow up reports.
- awakeasleep 16y ago
  It is just simply improper and disrespectful of others for anyone to communicate in the manner that Dave has I think that is the essence of his persona. The whole justification for it-- I'm smart and I have money so I don't have to show anyone respect. Deal with it or leave. It reminds me of my concept of ancient Rome for some reason. A place where power ruled, rather than the concept of egalitarianism.

CamperBob 16y ago

I don't know McClure or any of the other alleged colluding Lucifers, but I will say that, assuming McClure is a person of influence in the tech/dev community, I don't want him influencing others to write that way. Why? Simply because I don't want to read any further blog posts that are written that way. So it's more selfishness than self-righteousness that leads me to criticize his particular style.